Journal of Experimental Neurology

Our modern world is facing extraordinary circumstances while passing through a serious pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which may lead to multi-organ system failure & death. Bcell depletion could compromise antiviral immunity, which makes the safety of rituximab use in the COVID19 era unclear.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are defined by their role in maintaining glucose homeostasis and natural GCs are a class of corticosteroids secreted by the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is the most important natural GC in humans. Cellular cortisol levels are regulated by the tissue-specific metabolic enzymes 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (11β-HSD 1 and 2); 11β-HSD 1 converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol, while 11β-HSD 2 has the opposite function.

The important immune cells in the brain are called microglia acting as the central junction between neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. In patients of cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) animal models, amoebic morphology and inflammatory pathways are activated to release numerous cells in the inflammatory factors by active microglia.

Tumor angiogenesis, a hallmark of cancer, is a critical step in the tumorigenesis of solid cancers. The process of tumor angiogenesis is orchestrated by a range of secreted factors, signaling pathways as well as nonendothelial cells.

We recently reviewed the scientific literature linking dopamine agonist pharmacotherapy for neurological disorders to the development of impulsive and compulsive spectrum disorders (ICSDs). 

Uromodulin (UMOD) is a glycoprotein expressed by the epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop in the kidney. Research has shown that increased uromodulin expression may be associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in adults.

HIV is a known risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Even with the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, stroke incidence is higher in patients with HIV compared to non-HIV control subjects.

Neuroinflammation is associated with the occurrence and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) is closely related to pyroptosis in PD-related cells and animal models, such as microglia and SH-SY5Y cells. The novel lncRNA ZFAS1 (LncZFAS1) regulates a variety of signaling pathways and participates in the inflammatory response in various diseases.

Stroke is the second largest cause of death worldwide, with a world annual mortality incidence of about 5.5 million people, and it is also the leading cause of disability worldwide with 50% of survivors being chronically disabled.

Twenty-five percent of small molecules in drug development for CNS indications fail in clinical trials due to complications with neurotoxicity. Unfortunately, this is not discovered earlier. Indeed, it is very infrequent that a drug is flagged for neurotoxic side effects in early drug discovery (1). The consequences are two-fold: 1) loss of time and money in bringing new drugs to market and, 2) the unwitting exposure of patents in clinical trials to the neurotoxic side effects of what otherwise could be a drug candidate that is effectively treating the problem. 

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by systemic hamartomas, including skin and neural symptoms. Many patients exhibit epilepsy, intellectual disability, autism, and other behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms, referred to as TSCassociated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND).

Ocular surface complications occur in more than 50% of individuals diagnosed with diabetes. The financial and health-related burden of diabetes is increasing annually. Several major ocular complications associated with diabetes involve the limbus. The vascular limbus, adjacent to the avascular cornea, is the source of circulating growth factors, elevated glucose, and cytokines for the cornea.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder historically associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, predominantly described in young women with ovarian teratomas. This case presents a 4-year-old male with NMDA receptor encephalitis, highlights the importance of early detection and aggressive treatment of movement disorders in pediatric autoimmune encephalitis and contributes to the limited literature on the successful use of tetrabenazine for symptomatic control in children.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration of the central nervous system. MS pathogenesis includes angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing vasculature. Angiogenesis facilitates the migration of inflammatory immune cells across the blood-brain barrier in MS. The opioid growth factor (OGF)-opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) axis is a potential target for limiting angiogenesis in MS. 

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a common neurological disorder resulting from peripheral nerve damage, significantly contributing to morbidity and adversely affecting patients’ quality of life. Drug-induced peripheral neuropathy (DIPN) accounts for 2-4% of cases and typically manifesting as distal, symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy. The growing diversity of medications complicates DIPN diagnosis, often leading to underreporting and mismanagement due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions. This systematic review analyzed DIPN literature up to September 15, 2024, emphasizing both established and emerging neurotoxic drugs.

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) is a mitochondrial enzyme predominantly expressed in astrocytes, where it plays a crucial role in neurotransmitter metabolism, oxidative stress regulation, and neuroinflammation. In addition to its well-characterized function in the oxidative deamination of monoamines such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin, MAO-B is increasingly recognized for its involvement in astrocytic GABA synthesis.